If you ever find yourself in Vietnam, a cruise on Ha Long Bay is an absolute must. It’s an incredibly relaxing experience — delicious food, cosy cabins, attentive staff and, of course, the jaw-dropping scenery of limestone karsts rising from the emerald waters. And the sunsets? Simply unforgettable.
The cruise was a two day trip with a small group. There was no guide on board but the crew organised lots of activities and took part – cookery, board games, cultural fashion show for passengers to do. It was great fun.
The water was quite calm which made it even more enjoyable for me.
Activities on a Ha Long Bay Cruise
Most cruises also offer a variety of activities if you feel like exploring. You can kayak around the limestone formations, take a small boat through narrow inlets and caves, or visit the impressive Sung Sot Cave, known locally as “Surprise Cave”. The story goes that the French explorer who first discovered it described its beauty as so unexpected that he named it for its “surprising” splendour.
For those wanting a bit more adventure, there’s also a hike up Titop Island, where a short but steep climb rewards you with sweeping views across the entire bay. Some cruises even offer night-time squid fishing or a visit to a small beach by tender.
As for me, I was perfectly happy simply relaxing on deck and soaking in the scenery. I wasn’t particularly eager to explore another cave, even though I heard that Sung Sot is filled with impressive stalagmites and stalactites. Watching the limestone islands drift past and gliding quietly through the inlets was more than enough for me.
During my trip to Vietnam I also experienced the famous Train Street in Hanoi and tried the unique Vietnamese speciality known as egg coffee.
